Legislative Report Card Ranks Tennessee’s Top 5 GOP Lawmakers

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov / TLRC

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

The Tennessee Legislative Report Card (TLRC) has given Senator Mark Pody, Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, Senator Janice Bowling and retiring Representatives Jerry Sexton and Bruce Griffey the highest rankings of all Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly.

TRLC’s 2022 Report Card employs a scoring methodology based on three broad categories: fiscal impact which has to do with spending, taxation, and budgets; agenda politics which encompasses cronyism, transparency and agendas; and property and civil rights which relates to personal and economic freedom.

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Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon-District 17) scored a perfect 100.  

TRLC said of Pody, “Senator Mark Pody has served District 17 since 2017. His constituents should be very proud of Senator Pody for being a voice for liberty, fiscal responsibility, transparency, honesty, and morality. He has maintained his commitment to conservative and Godly principles despite pressure from lobbyists, special interests, and often his own leadership. It is reflected in his vote score of 100%, the highest of the entire Senate, and his leadership grade of A. This is what we want in an elected representative; someone who listens to his constituents and not the well-connected.

Senator Pody has not had a good record of getting legislation passed because of his firm stance and unwillingness to compromise his principles. TLRC maintains that, if more members were made of that stuff, there would not be such impasse. Senator Pody is a credit to his constituents, voting for traditional conservative values 100% of the time.”

View Pody’s full detailed report card HERE.

Representative Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster-District 40) scored 98.

TRLC said of Weaver, “Representative Terri Lynn Weaver, serving district 40 since 2009, has been a mighty warrior for traditional conservative values.  This year she is the highest scoring member of the entire Tennessee General Assembly House of Representatives, scoring at remarkable 98% in a very tough year.

Rep. Weaver earned an A for leadership, accruing an impressive 80 merits in sponsorships, co-sponsorships and other meritorious actions.

Weaver showed remarkable courage, defying lobbyists and leadership.  Rep. Weaver is a true credit to her constituents and to all Tennesseans, consistently voting for traditional conservative values.”

View Weaver’s full detailed report card HERE.

Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma-District 16) scored 96.

TRLC said of Bowling, “Senator Janice Bowling (R), District 16, has served in the Tennessee State Senate since 2013. She is a credit to her office and to her constituents. She has earned a vote score of 96% in a very tough year for making courageous votes, placing her in the #2 spot in the senate. Her leadership grade, which is based on various courageous acts, sponsorships and co-sponsorships, is an A+.

There were a number of TLRC-scored bills that Senator Bowling supported that support education reform, medical freedom, second amendment rights, fiscal responsibility, governmental transparency, election integrity, and constitutional fidelity.

Her Leadership Grade of A+ was well deserved. We need more members like Senator Janice Bowling.”

View Bowlings’ full detailed report card HERE.

Representative Jerry Sexton (R-Bean Station-District 35) scored 96.

TRLC said of Sexton, “Representative Jerry Sexton, District 35, has served in the Tennessee State House since 2015. Representative Sexton has a commendable vote score of 96%, placing him #2 in a body of 99.  His leadership grade of A sets him above the crowd.

We regret that Representative Sexton is not returning to the General Assembly. We need principled members like him to battle against bigger government and for our tenth amendment rights to make good policy decisions for ordinary Tennesseans by Tennesseans. We are in crisis. We can and must do better. We hope his replacement can live up to Representative Sexton’s example.”

View Sexton’s full detailed report card HERE.

Representative Bruce Griffey (R-Paris-District 75) scored 96.

TRLC said of Griffey, “Representative Bruce Griffey, District 75, has served in the Tennessee State House since 2019. Representative Griffey has a commendable vote score of 96%, placing him #3 in a body of 99. His leadership grade of A sets him above the crowd.”

Representative Griffey was a leader in the battle against bigger government and for constitutional principles. That wasn’t exactly embraced by our leadership in the General Assembly. We are in crisis.  We must do better.

TLRC congratulates Representative Griffey for winning the judgeship race in his district. We know he will follow constitutional principles in his decisions. We regret that he is not returning to the General Assembly. We need principled members like him to battle against an ever-expanding government and for our 10th amendment rights, and to make good policy decisions for ordinary Tennesseans by Tennesseans.   We hope his replacement can live up to Representative Griffey’s example.”

View Griffey’s full detailed report card HERE.

In contrast, the Tennessee Legislative Report Card gave Senators Richard Briggs, Todd Gardenhire, Ken Yager, and Jack Johnson the lowest rankings of all Republican Senators in the Tennessee General Assembly.  Read more about their rankings HERE.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com